. under the constitution of australia , defence responsibility was now vested in the new federal government . the co @ - @ ordination of australia @ - @ wide defensive efforts in the face of imperial german interest in the pacific ocean was one of driving forces behind federal ##ism , and the department of defence immediately came into being as a result , while the commonwealth military forces ( early forerunner of the australian army ) and commonwealth naval force were also soon established . the australian commonwealth military forces came into being on 1 march 1901 and all the colonial forces — including those still in south africa — became part of the new force . 28 @ , @ 92 ##3 colonial soldiers ,
. under the constitution of australia, defence responsibility was now vested in the new federal government. the co @ - @ ordination of australia @ - @ wide defensive efforts in the face of imperial german interest in the pacific ocean was one of driving forces behind federalism, and the department of defence immediately came into being as a result, while the commonwealth military forces ( early forerunner of the australian army ) and commonwealth naval force were also soon established. the australian commonwealth military forces came into being on 1 march 1901 and all the colonial forces — including those still in south africa — became part of the new force. 28 @, @ 923 colonial soldiers,